Dial apparatus



July 7, 1931. W A, READY I 1,813,766

DIAL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 11, 1926 Mh'am/ewg'y L5y M Patented July 7, 1931 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM A. READY, F BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS DIAL APPARATUS Application led August 11, 1926. Serial No. 128,621.

-This invention relates to improvements in dial apparatus. More especially it relates to apparatus for radio sets and particularly to a dial upon which an operator can make reference marks, and to an illuminator therefor by aid of which marks on the dial can be readily observed when tuning in a desired station to effect both a general and an exact setting of the dial.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of a dial plate and wall means for covering the dial herein shown as being in the form of a shell covering it having a window through which access may be had for marking the dial. It is to be understood that any suitable covering means having a window may be used. Another object is to provide a slightly translucent pane across a portion of this Window, with its edge suitably shaped to enable the operator to locate the mark that is to be later used in making the exact setting. It is a feature that this translucent pane serves to hide partially this exact reference mark, in subsequent manipulations of the dial, until the exact setting is made.

further object of the invention is to provide an illuminator for the dial and to locate it so that while itself hidden from view, its light rays and adapted to illuminate the reference marks on the dial so thatwhen the mark for exact setting is'exposed to view its brightness and clearness indicate that the exact setting has been effected.

These objects and the features which characterize the construction of the invention herein disclosed are attained by mounting on the shaft of a radio condenser, adjacent to the outside' surface of the panel, a dial plate adapted to receive pencilor pen mark-l ings. An opaque shell is fastened to the panel over the dial plate, thereby covering it except for a section at the top near its edge which is visible through a T-shaped window in the shell. Atranslucent pane extends across the head of this T-shaped window, leaving thev leg thereof open for access to the scale plate, so that when the dial has been properly set to tune in a station the call letters thereof can be inscribed 5 upon the dial. The edge of the pane, centrally of the window opening, is notched to aid the user inplacing a reference mark on the dial immediately above the call letters and opposite to that graduation of a scale on the dial corresponding to the exact station setting. Thereafter in tuning in that station, its general setting is first determined by brin ing its call letters under the open leg of t e window, and its exact setting is then attained by bringing the reference mark into register with the notch in the edge of the pane.

- In order to illuminate the dial and determine when a mark is directly under the notch, an electric lamp is mounted with its bulb extending into a recessed lobe at the top of the shell just over the window. A corresponding hole is formed in the panel of the set so that the bulb may be passed there* through and project into the recess of the F shell, with its rays falling behind or under the translucent pane on that section of the dial plate exposed to view. Inside the panel novel mounting means is provided to support A this lamp, and form the electrical connection therein. The supporting means is attached to the panel by the same fastenings which hold the shell and is designed and arranged to fit easily within the space that is available between the panel and the condenser frame. Suitable leads from the batteries of the set supply the current, and a panel switch may be included in the circuit if desired.

It is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portionl of the panel of a radio sct with dial apparatus embodying the present invention mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, in section on line 2 -2 of Fig. l;

F igur( 3 is a plan; and

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the lamp supporting means as seen from line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the panel l0 and base board 12 of a radio set have a condenser 14 mounted thereon with its rotor shaft 16 extending through the panel as is customary. There is secured to the projecting end of this shaft a dial plate 18 of material adapted to receive pen or pencil markings, white celluloid being particularly suitable edged with a brass ring. Any operative means can be used for turning the dial, that shown herein having a Vernier mechanism such as is more particularl described on my copending application Serlal No. 95,154, tiled March 16, 1926, and comprising a hand-operated drive shaft carrying a hand knob 2O and spring urged frict1on driving wheels 21 which engage the edge of the dial plate, as shown in Fig. 2. The knob 20 is secured to the hand-operated driving'shaft 2001l to which the friction driving Wheels 21 are assembled. Thus wher the knob 20 is turned, the friction driving wheels 21 will turn the dial plate 18 at a somewhat reduced ratioof speed. As the dial plate is secured to the shaft 16 by means of the hub 16a and set screw 166, the rotor plates of the condenser or likedevice may be adjusted relative to the stator plates of the device. The removable cover 16e vindicated in section, Fig. 2', is attached to the shell 22 to conceal the hub 16a and the shaft 16 of the condenser. f

- 4Superimposed upon the panel is a shell 22 whose marginal flange 22a rests on the panel and spaces its disk portion therefrom so that the latter overlies the dial plate and completely covers it except for a section at the top of its edge. Here the shell has a T shaped window 26 through whose head portion 26a a number of the scale graduations can be seen.v This portion of the window has a transparent pane 30 across it whose lower edgecentrally over the le portion 266, has a notch 32 extending ra graduations. This leg portion of the window is open and when the dial has been turned by the hand Yknob 20 and connecting` mechanism to tune in a station, the operator can insert a pencil or pen through the window opening and note on the dial plate the call letters 34 of that particular station. When a very fine setting for that Pstation has been made the pen or pencil point can be pushed into the notch 32 to inscribe a reference line or mark 36 extending radially on the plate from the call letters' toward a graduation on the scale. Thereafter in tuning in, the dial is first turned until the station letters are seen through the Window opening, then the dial is carefully adjusted to bring the reference mark 36 nicely into register with the notch 32 in the pane. By

j Vusing a slightly translucent material for the pane, the exact register of the mark with the notch is announced visibly to the operator when it is clearly and sharply exposed to view through the notch.

ially outward toward the scaleavailable. The present invention enables the Y set to be used anywhere desired without regard to external lighting conditions because it provides a lamp for illuminating the exposed portion of each dial. The shell has a recessed marginal lobe 226 at its top with a bottom opening into the space of the window 26. A hole 38 is made in the panel just back of the recess of this lobe. On the inside sur- -face of the anel a .V-shaped support 40 is mounted an secured in place by the clampf ing screws and nuts 42 which serve to fasten the shell to the panel.

This vV-shaped support 40 is preferably made of insulating material, and has attached to its lower end a bracket 44 desirably made of a piece of spring metal which extends horizontally backward and thence upward from the panel a short distance, then terminates in a vertical arm 44a. On the latter, on the side toward the panel, is an insulating strip 46 with a hole 46al near its tip into which the extreme end of the vertical arm 44a is bent. This arm is connected by a lead 48 with a source of electric current, for example the batteries of the radio set. On the insulated 4V-shaped support 40 above its junction with the bracket 44 just described, is mounted another metallic bracket 50 having an offset portion .bent into suitable shape to form a pair of resilient jaws 50a. The latter are located between the first mentioned bracket arm 44a and the hole 38 in the panel, with the jaws opening upward. This second bracket 50 is connected by another lead 52 with the batteries or may be connected to a panel switch 54 (see Fig l) which in turn is connected to the batteries. A lamp bulb 56 is 'inserted in the mounting by pushing its bulb end through the hole 38 of the panel while its threaded stem is forced between the spring jaws 50a` to hold the lamp and form one terminal connection therewith. The center or end terminal of the lamp enters the hole 46a of the insulating strip 46 and contacts with the bent in end of the bracket arm 44m to complete the circuit through the lamp. The bulb extends far enough into the recess of the shell lobe for its rays to fall behind the translucentpane 30 onto the section of the dial plate that is visible through the shell window. Accordingly the dial plate is uniformly lighted, l

Ifo

although when seen from the front a pears to be unevenly illuminated because t e observer is looking both through the open leg 266 where the call letters appear sharp and clear, and through the translucent pane, where the graduations and radial reference marks appear somewhat blurred. This is helpful in setting the dial because the operator turns the dial rapidly untilthe call letters of the desired station appear. Then he turns the dial more slowly until the radial reference mark 36 which is vertically over the call letter appears sharply and distinctly through the notch of the pane. When both the call letters and the radial mark over them are of equal intensity to the eye, the operator knows that the exact setting has been affected. The lamp can thereupon be extinguished by throwing the panel switch 54.

The dial apparatus illustrated can. be fitted to an already made up set by simplyl attaching the dial plate to the rotor shaft and fastening the dial shell to the panel. The bolts at the upper part of the shell also serve to bind the lamp supporting means to the inside of the panel. The lamp and its support occupy very little space, such as is usually available between the condenser frame and the panel. The spring jaws 50a and spring arm contact 44a' for the lamp bulb also make an important saving of space because they permit the lamp to be inserted bulb end rst and simply thrust between the jaws to secure it, as distinguished from the customary screwing of the threaded end into a socket.

I claim:

1. Dial apparatus comprising, in combination, a rotatable dial plate, a shell covering saidv plate having a window through which access may be had to a section of the plate for making record thereon of the dial setting; said window having a portion open and a portion closed by a pane having a notch therein over the open portion for locatin a reference mark.

2. ireless apparatus including a rotatable dial, means covering said dial "and having a window through which access may be had to a section of the dial for making record thereon of the dial setting, a lamp located laterally from and at one side of the window and behind the dial covering means, said lamp being adapted to illuminate that section of said dial exposed through said window.

3. Dial apparatus comprising, in combination, a rotatable dial means covering said dial and having a Window through which access may be had to a section of the plate for making record thereon of the dial setting; a pane across a portion of the said window opening; and a lamp located laterally from one side of the opening and behind the dial-covering means and arranged for its light rays to pass behind said pane upon the dial to illuminate the markings thereon.

4. Dial apparatus com rising, in combination, a rotatable dialp ate; a shell covering said plate having a window through which access may behad to a section of the plate for making record thereon of the dial sett-ing; a pane across a portion of said window; an open portion of said window below said pane; a notch in said pane opening into said open portion whereby a mark can be located on the plate which will come under said pane when the plate is turned; a recess in said shell above the said window in which recess a lamp may be located so that its light rays fall behind said pane onto said plate whereby upon the dial being moved to bring said mark under said notch, said mark is thereby more clearly visible than similar marks under the said pane.

5. Dial'apparatus comprising, in combination, a rotatable dial having indicia on a portion of its surface and having a portion adjacent thereto adapted to receive a record; a fixed plate covering said dial and having a window through which a part of both said portions of said dial is exposed; and a pane closing that part of the window through which said indicia are visible, leaving the remainder of said window open for access to said dial whereby a record of the .dial setting may be made thereon.

6. Dial apparatus comprising, in combination, a rotatable dial plate, a shell covering said plate having a window through which access may be had to a section of the plate for making record thereon of the dial setting; said window having a portion open and a portion closed by a pane; and means at thevedge of the open portion for locating a reference mark on the dial.

7 Wireless apparatus including a rotatable dial, means covering said dial and having a window through which access may be had to a section of the dial for making record thereon of the dial setting, a lamp located laterally from and at one side of the Window and behind the dial covering means, said lamp being adapted to illuminate that section of said dial exposed through said window, and yieldable means holding the lamp in position while permitting quick re- 

